Funds flow for water partnership

By Olivia Komorowski

Bolivia’s water crisis may find a long-term solution with the help of the University of Calgary and a million-dollar grant from the federal government.

The project will send U of C graduate students and professors to the South American country to direct Bolivian students in managing and preserving their scarce water resources from 2007-13. The commitment, provided by the Canadian International Development Agency was announced last Fri.

“This project will build the Bolivians’ capacity for water management, protection and conservation,” said federal industry minister Jim Prentice. “This will result in better access to abundant clean water, which in turn will lead to consequential improvements to health.”

However, more than just knowledge of sanitation is required to solve the issue. Disputes between competing communities over the decentralized resource require an understanding of socio-economic realities, explained project leader and researcher Dr. David Bethune.

“This project will help Bolivia manage their precious water resources with solid scientific and local knowledge such as water management solutions that are locally based and clearly in the hands of Bolivians,” said Bethune, noting many of Bolivia’s watersheds are under risk due to deforestation, urbanization, pollution and intensive farming practices.

The team will work with the Bolivian univeristy; Universidad Mayor, Real y Pontifica de San Francisco Xavier (Sucre) to deliver short courses, provide hands on experience, purchase books, upgrade libraries and water laboratories and educate the general public about water issues. The project will also help coordinate a Bolivian-focused water network that will connect all Bolivian universities working with water sanitation.

Bethune has worked on similar projects in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ghana and Honduras.

“The project is also a great opportunity to involve University of Calgary students, some of whom will do their graduate research in Bolivia thus providing them with a tremendous international bonus to their education,” said Bethune.

U of C president Dr. Harvey Weingarten agreed an international component is beneficial to education.

“It’s quite comforting to speak to students who have come back from some point in studying abroad or international exchange and to hear their renewed sense of passion, enthusiasm and understanding,” he said.

Weingarten noted the initiative supported the university’s commitment to internationalizing student education.

“Universities understand that we have to ensure students are offered as many opportunities as we can give them to work and study and learn on the international scene,” he said.